Golf club head and method for fabricating striking plate thereof

ABSTRACT

A golf club head including a shell and a striking plate and a method for fabricating the striking plate is provided. The shell has an opening and the striking plate is disposed at the opening. In addition, the striking plate has a striking surface and at least one cavity is formed on the striking plate opposite to the striking surface for modifying a preferred striking region of the golf club head. By the cavity, the preferred striking region on the striking surface can be modified and thus the striking effect of the golf club head can be improved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a golf club head and a fabricating method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a striking plate having cavities to improve the striking effect and a fabricating method of the striking plate.

2. Description of Related Art

Sports are becoming more and more popular, and golf has already become one of the most widely enjoyed sports. In addition, the number of participants in the sport of golf has risen rapidly. In which, the golf club used for playing golf, because of the varieties in purposes and course geographies, are categorized into different types such as wood club, iron club, and putter.

With respect to the wood club, the golf club head typically comprises a shell and a striking plate on the shell for use to strike the ball. When the golf club head strikes a golf ball, the striking plate receives a large impact and produces a reacting force to the golf ball, and thus the golf ball obtains the kinetic energy transferred from the reacting force for a long distance flight.

However, due to the intrinsic properties of material or the structure design of a conventional golf club, the preferred striking region of the golf club may be restricted and even goes aberrant. FIG. 1 illustrates the striking surface of a conventional striking plate, in which an aberration of preferred striking region is observed. As shown in FIG. 1, the striking plate is divided into four portions by a two-dimensional coordinate, wherein the origin of the two-dimensional coordinate is located at the geometric center 100 a of the striking surface 100. The X-axis and Y-axis of the two-dimensional coordinate defines a first quadrant 102 between the heel 112 and the crown 114 of the golf club head, a second quadrant 104 between the crown 114 and the toe 116 of the golf club head, a third quadrant 106 between the toe 116 and the sole 118 of the golf club head, and a fourth quadrant 108 between the sole 118 and the heel 112 of the golf club head.

After dividing the striking surface into four quadrant, and project the center of gravity of the golf club head onto this surface, this center of gravity would have a projected location at 120, within the first quadrant 102 of the striking surface. Herein, the projected center of gravity 120 is the ideal striking point (sweet spot) where the golf ball would receive the maximum reacting force by the impact from the striking plate. Furthermore, if we record the coefficient of reaction around the projected center of gravity 120, we find that the coefficient of reaction decrease outward from the projected center of gravity 120. Generally, the projected center of gravity 120 of the golf club head is located in the first quadrant 102 between the heel 112 and the crown 114 of the golf club head. If the location where the golf ball impacts the striking plate is far away from the projected center of gravity 120, a torque caused by component force related to the projected center of gravity 120 will be produced, and the reacting force applied to the golf ball is diminished.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a preferred striking region 130 can be defined on the striking surface 100, which refers to the region where an acceptable and better striking effect can be achieved as the golf ball impacts the striking plate. However, most of the preferred striking region 130 is situated in the first quadrant 102 between the heel 112 and the crown 114 of the golf club head due to the projected center of gravity 120 located off center. In other words, a powerless strike or even an unexpected fault may occur if striking the golf ball out of the preferred striking region 130 on the striking surface 100. Thus, for enlarging the forgiveness of striking, we have to enhance the reaction force of the striking surface other than the first quadrant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a golf club head having a preferred striking region by a modification to the thickness of the striking plate thereof.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating the striking plate mentioned above.

Based on the aforementioned and other purposes, the present invention proposes a golf club head, which includes a shell and a striking plate. The shell has an opening and the striking plate is disposed at the opening. In addition, the striking plate has a striking surface and at least one cavity is formed on the striking plate opposite to the striking surface for modifying a preferred striking region of the golf club head.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the projected center of gravity of the golf club head is located in a first quadrant defined by a two-dimensional coordinate having an origin located at the geometric center of the striking surface, and at least one portion of the striking plate in a second quadrant, a third quadrant and a fourth quadrant defined by the two-dimensional coordinate has a cavity opposite to the striking surface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the portion of the striking plate having the cavity is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the profile of the cavity is regular.

The present invention also proposes a method for fabricating the aforementioned striking plate of the golf club head. The fabricating method includes providing a work piece and forming the striking plate with the cavity from the work piece.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cavity is integrally formed with the striking plate. In which, the striking plate with the cavity may be formed by pressing, casting, or forging.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cavity is formed by performing an extra work to the work piece. In which, the cavity may be formed by mechanical or chemical milling.

Based on the above, the striking region of the golf club head can be modified by forming at least one cavity on the striking plate opposite to the striking surface. By the modification of the preferred striking region, the striking effect of the golf club head can be promoted so as to increase the flight distance of the golf ball and improve the ball striking accuracy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the striking surface of a striking plate.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional exploded view illustrating a golf club head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively shows the back surface of the striking plate and the front view of the golf club head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively illustrates the back surface of the striking plate and the front view of the golf club head according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the striking surface of the striking plate as shown in FIG. 2 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional exploded view illustrating a golf club head of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the golf club head 200 has a club head body 202 comprising a shell 210 and a striking plate 220 having a striking surface 300 and a back surface 400 opposite thereto. In the present embodiment, the shell 210 and the striking plate 220 can be, for example, made of carbon fiber or typical metallic materials such as stainless steel or other metallic materials. In addition, the shell 210 has an opening 210 a, and the striking plate 220 is disposed at the opening 210 a.

The present invention may use welding for bonding the shell 210 and the striking plate 220. After the shell 210 and the striking plate 220 are engaged, further welding is conducted for binding the shell 210 and the striking plate 220.

Otherwise, the shell 210 can further be first engaged with the striking plate 220, and then the bonding agent is spread at the seam of the bonding location between the shell 210 and the striking plate 220. After the bonding agent has melted and seeped into the bonding surface, further cooling and solidifying to forming a bonding layer (not shown) between the shell 210 and the striking plate 220.

In the present invention, at least one cavity is formed on the striking plate 220 opposite to the striking surface 300 in order to modify the preferred striking region of the golf club head 200. FIG. 3A shows the back surface 400 of the striking plate 220 as shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B shows a front view of the golf club head 200. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the region 332 refers to the original preferred striking region of the striking plate 220. After forming the cavities 222 at two opposite sides of the original preferred striking region 332 on the back surface 400, the original preferred striking region 332 extends mainly in two opposite directions corresponding to the location of the cavities 222 and thus is enlarged into a new preferred striking region 332 a.

Similarly, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which further illustrate the back surface 400 of the striking plate 220 and the front view of the golf club head 200 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, four cavities 222 are formed surrounding the original preferred striking region 332 on the back surface 400, and the original preferred striking region 332 is enlarged into the preferred striking region 332 a with the cavities 222.

According to the aforementioned embodiments, the thickness of the striking plate is reduced by forming cavities on the back surface of the striking plate. In general, a thinner portion of the striking plate has higher coefficient of reaction than that of other portions of the striking plate. Therefore, the preferred striking region of the golf club head can be enlarged by forming cavities on the back surface of the striking plate.

In other scope, the present invention can also be conducted for solving the aberration of the preferred striking region. FIG. 5 illustrates the striking surface 300 of the striking plate 220 as shown in FIG. 2 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the striking plate 220 can be divided by a two-dimensional coordinate, wherein the origin of the two-dimensional coordinate is located at the geometric center 300 a of the striking surface 300. On the striking surface 300, a first quadrant 302 between the heel 312 and the crown 314 of the golf club head, a second quadrant 304 between the crown 314 and the toe 316 of the golf club head, a third quadrant 306 between the toe 316 and the sole 318 of the golf club head, and a fourth quadrant 308 between the sole 318 and the heel 312 of the golf club head are respectively defined by the X-axis and Y-axis of the two-dimensional coordinate.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5 again, the projected center of gravity 320 of the golf club head 200, which refers to the ideal striking point on the striking surface 300, is located in the first quadrant 302 due to the structural design and the necessity for connecting with a rod (not show) to form a golf club (not show). It should be noted that in order to prevent the torque caused by component force related to the projected center of gravity 320 and to enlarge the preferred striking region on the striking surface 300, the present invention forms cavities 222 on the back surface 400 of the striking plate 220 respectively in the second quadrant 304, the third quadrant 306 and the fourth quadrant 308.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 5, the region 332 refers to the original preferred striking region of the striking plate 220 before forming the cavities 222, and new regions 334, 336, and 338 almost in the second quadrant 304, the third quadrant 306, and the fourth quadrant 308 are obtained after the cavities 222 are formed. That is to say a larger preferred striking region comprising the regions 332, 334, 336, and 338 and Occupying most of the striking surface 300 is acquired to provide an acceptable and better striking effect as the golf ball impacts the striking plate 200. Therefore, the powerless strike or even the unexpected fault can be effectively prevented and thus the striking effect is improved.

Based on all the above embodiments, a preferred thickness of the portions of the striking plate 220 having the cavities 222 is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, moreover, in the embodiments the profile of the cavities 222 is regular, such as circle. However, in other embodiments of the present invention the profile of the cavities can further be irregular.

Specifically, the method for fabricating the striking plate 220 of the golf club head 200 may first provide a work piece and then form the striking plate 220 with the cavities 222 from the work piece. For example, the cavities 222 can be integrally formed with the striking plate 220, wherein the cavities 222 may be formed by punching, casting, or forging. Otherwise, the cavities 222 can further be formed by performing an extra work such as mechanical or chemical milling to the work piece.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, regarding to achieve an improvement in specific regions of the striking surface or to meet some particular design requirements, the cavity or cavities may be formed in any specific location on the back surface of the striking plate. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A golf club head, comprising: a shell, having an opening; and a striking plate, disposed at the opening, and having a striking surface, wherein the striking plate has at least one cavity opposite to the striking surface for modifying a preferred striking region of the golf club head.
 2. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein the projected center of gravity of the golf club head is located in a first quadrant defined by a two-dimensional coordinate having an origin located at the geometric center of the striking surface, and at least one portion of the striking plate in a second quadrant, a third quadrant and a fourth quadrant defined by the two-dimensional coordinate has a cavity opposite to the striking surface.
 3. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the portion of the striking plate having the cavity is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.
 4. The striking plate according to claim 1, wherein the profile of the cavity is regular.
 5. A method for fabricating the striking plate of the golf club head of claim 1, the fabricating method comprising: providing a work piece; and forming the striking plate with the cavity from the work piece.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cavity is integrally formed with the striking plate.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the striking plate with the cavity is formed by punching, casting, or forging.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cavity is formed by performing an extra work to the work piece.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cavity is formed by milling. 